DeepEMs-25: a deep-learning potential to decipher kinetic tug-of-war dictating thermal stability in energetic materials

Abstract Atomic-scale insight into decompositions in energetic materials (EMs) is essential for harnessing energy release, which remains elusive due to both instrumental and computational limitations. Herein, we developed DeepEMs-25, a deep-learning potential trained on diverse EMs towards accurate...

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Main Authors: Ming-Yu Guo, Yun-Fan Yan, Pin Chen, Wei-Xiong Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Computational Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-025-01739-7
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author Ming-Yu Guo
Yun-Fan Yan
Pin Chen
Wei-Xiong Zhang
author_facet Ming-Yu Guo
Yun-Fan Yan
Pin Chen
Wei-Xiong Zhang
author_sort Ming-Yu Guo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Atomic-scale insight into decompositions in energetic materials (EMs) is essential for harnessing energy release, which remains elusive due to both instrumental and computational limitations. Herein, we developed DeepEMs-25, a deep-learning potential trained on diverse EMs towards accurate and efficient simulations. Applying DeepEMs‑25 to an isostructural ABX3 molecular perovskites series, with A-site organic cations, B-site alkali or ammonium cations, and X-site perchlorate anions, we probe the effect of cation size on reactivity. Arrhenius analysis of 100-ps trajectories reveals that increasing B‑site ionic radius simultaneously decreases X–A collision’s activation energy (enhancing reaction rates) and decreases X–A collision’s pre‑exponential factor (reducing collision frequency), producing opposing kinetic effects. Such “kinetic tug‑of‑war” explains why an intermediate‑sized cation yields maximal thermal stability by optimally balancing reactivity and collision dissipation. A similarly sized reactive cation promotes additional hydrogen-transfer pathways causing accelerating decomposition. Our findings link atomistic kinetics to macroscopic stability, informing next-generation EMs design.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2057-3960
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series npj Computational Materials
spelling doaj-art-f29f7a7f36f043568a8930a8c19256fc2025-08-20T03:46:15ZengNature Portfolionpj Computational Materials2057-39602025-07-0111111010.1038/s41524-025-01739-7DeepEMs-25: a deep-learning potential to decipher kinetic tug-of-war dictating thermal stability in energetic materialsMing-Yu Guo0Yun-Fan Yan1Pin Chen2Wei-Xiong Zhang3MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, IGCME, Sun Yat-sen UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, IGCME, Sun Yat-sen UniversityNational Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, IGCME, Sun Yat-sen UniversityAbstract Atomic-scale insight into decompositions in energetic materials (EMs) is essential for harnessing energy release, which remains elusive due to both instrumental and computational limitations. Herein, we developed DeepEMs-25, a deep-learning potential trained on diverse EMs towards accurate and efficient simulations. Applying DeepEMs‑25 to an isostructural ABX3 molecular perovskites series, with A-site organic cations, B-site alkali or ammonium cations, and X-site perchlorate anions, we probe the effect of cation size on reactivity. Arrhenius analysis of 100-ps trajectories reveals that increasing B‑site ionic radius simultaneously decreases X–A collision’s activation energy (enhancing reaction rates) and decreases X–A collision’s pre‑exponential factor (reducing collision frequency), producing opposing kinetic effects. Such “kinetic tug‑of‑war” explains why an intermediate‑sized cation yields maximal thermal stability by optimally balancing reactivity and collision dissipation. A similarly sized reactive cation promotes additional hydrogen-transfer pathways causing accelerating decomposition. Our findings link atomistic kinetics to macroscopic stability, informing next-generation EMs design.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-025-01739-7
spellingShingle Ming-Yu Guo
Yun-Fan Yan
Pin Chen
Wei-Xiong Zhang
DeepEMs-25: a deep-learning potential to decipher kinetic tug-of-war dictating thermal stability in energetic materials
npj Computational Materials
title DeepEMs-25: a deep-learning potential to decipher kinetic tug-of-war dictating thermal stability in energetic materials
title_full DeepEMs-25: a deep-learning potential to decipher kinetic tug-of-war dictating thermal stability in energetic materials
title_fullStr DeepEMs-25: a deep-learning potential to decipher kinetic tug-of-war dictating thermal stability in energetic materials
title_full_unstemmed DeepEMs-25: a deep-learning potential to decipher kinetic tug-of-war dictating thermal stability in energetic materials
title_short DeepEMs-25: a deep-learning potential to decipher kinetic tug-of-war dictating thermal stability in energetic materials
title_sort deepems 25 a deep learning potential to decipher kinetic tug of war dictating thermal stability in energetic materials
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-025-01739-7
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